Lost your Xiaomi TV remote or simply want to control your TV from your phone? Universal TV Remote Control for Xiaomi Mi TV lets you use a compatible smartphone as a convenient remote for supported Xiaomi Smart TVs.

With a phone remote, you can handle everyday controls such as volume, navigation, playback, text input, and menu access without searching for the original remote.

For supported TVs, the main requirement is simple: connect your Xiaomi TV and phone to the same Wi-Fi network, then open the remote app and select your TV.

Can I Use My Phone as a Remote for Xiaomi TV?

Yes. Xiaomi itself supports phone-based remote control for compatible TVs. Depending on the model and platform, Xiaomi recommends options such as the Mi Remote app or connecting the television with Google Home.

For users who want one app to control TVs from multiple brands, Universal TV Remote Control can also be used with supported Xiaomi Mi TV models.

This is useful when:

Your Xiaomi remote is lost
The remote batteries are dead
Some remote buttons have stopped working
You want a second remote on your iPhone
You manage TVs from several different brands
You prefer typing searches with your phone keyboard

How to Connect Your Phone to Xiaomi Mi TV

For compatible Wi-Fi-controlled Xiaomi TVs, setup usually takes only a few steps.

1. Turn On Your Xiaomi TV

Make sure the TV is powered on and has completed its normal startup process.

If you have lost the original remote, use the physical power button on the TV if your model provides one.

2. Connect the TV to Wi-Fi

Your Xiaomi TV needs to be connected to your home network.

Many newer Xiaomi TVs use Google TV and include Wi-Fi connectivity as part of the initial setup process. Xiaomi’s setup instructions for current models, for example, require users to connect the TV to Wi-Fi while configuring Google TV.

3. Connect Your Phone to the Same Network

Your iPhone or other compatible smartphone should be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the television.

Avoid situations where:

The TV is on Wi-Fi but the phone is using mobile data
The phone is connected to a guest Wi-Fi network
The TV and phone are isolated on separate networks

These are common reasons a TV may not appear during device scanning.

4. Open Universal TV Remote

Open Universal TV Remote Control on your phone.

Allow local-network access if your phone asks for permission. The app needs access to your local network to discover compatible televisions.

5. Select Your Xiaomi TV

Wait for the app to scan for available TVs.

When your Xiaomi Mi TV appears, select it and follow any pairing instructions shown on the television.

Once connected, your phone can act as a virtual remote.

What Can You Control From Your Phone?

Available functions depend on your Xiaomi TV model and software, but a compatible remote app may provide controls such as:

Navigation

Use an on-screen directional pad or touch interface to move around TV menus.

Volume

Adjust the TV volume without reaching for the original remote.

Playback

Play, pause, rewind, or fast-forward supported media.

Home and Back

Navigate between apps, menus, and your television’s home interface.

Text Input

Typing a movie title, account name, or search query is usually much faster on a phone than with a traditional TV remote.

Power Controls

Power support varies between television models and connection methods.

This distinction is important. Xiaomi notes that its own mobile remote app does not necessarily provide the same standby and wake functions as a physical remote.

So if your phone remote works while the television is on but cannot wake it from standby, this does not automatically mean the app is broken.

Wi-Fi Remote vs Infrared Remote for Xiaomi TV

Not all Xiaomi remote solutions work in the same way.

Wi-Fi Remote

A Wi-Fi remote communicates with the TV through your home network.

This is the most relevant option for iPhone users because iPhones do not include a built-in infrared transmitter.

The main advantages are:

No need to point your phone directly at the TV
Easy menu navigation
Convenient keyboard input
Better fit for smart-TV interfaces

The phone and TV normally need to be on the same local network.

Infrared Remote

Some Android phones, including certain Xiaomi devices, include an IR blaster.

With compatible hardware, Xiaomi’s Mi Remote app can send traditional infrared commands to TVs and other appliances.

IR control does not depend on the TV being connected to Wi-Fi, but it requires compatible infrared hardware in the phone.

For iPhone users, a Wi-Fi-based remote is generally the more practical approach.

Why Can’t the App Find My Xiaomi TV?

If your Xiaomi TV does not appear in the remote app, work through these checks before reinstalling anything.

Check the Wi-Fi Connection

Confirm that both devices are on the same home network.

If your router has separate network names, verify exactly which one each device is using.

Disable Mobile Data Temporarily

Your phone may sometimes prioritize cellular data.

Turning off mobile data briefly can help ensure that device discovery happens over your local Wi-Fi network.

Allow Local Network Permission

On iPhone, check whether the remote app has permission to access devices on your local network.

Without this permission, the app may not be able to discover your Xiaomi TV.

Restart the App and TV

Close and reopen the remote app.

If that does not help, restart the television and try again.

Check the TV Platform

Not every Xiaomi television uses exactly the same operating system or remote-control protocol.

Some Xiaomi TVs use Google TV, while older product generations may use different software. Features can therefore vary between models and regions.

This is why model-specific compatibility matters more than simply seeing “Xiaomi” on the front of the TV.

Xiaomi Google TV Remote: What Is Different?

Many newer Xiaomi televisions use Google TV.

For example, Xiaomi currently documents Google TV setup for recent Xiaomi TV A-series models.

These TVs often rely more heavily on network and Bluetooth features than older infrared-only television designs.

Some newer Xiaomi models even use Bluetooth remotes rather than standard TV infrared control. Xiaomi’s documentation for the TV A 65 2025, for example, lists Bluetooth remote support while stating that remote IR is not supported on that model.

That means a cheap generic IR remote is not automatically the best replacement for every modern Xiaomi TV.

If you have a newer Google TV model, a network-based phone remote can be a particularly useful alternative.

Can I Use the App If My Xiaomi Remote Is Completely Lost?

Yes, provided your television is already connected to Wi-Fi and can be turned on without the missing remote.

A practical recovery sequence is:

Turn on the TV manually → connect your phone to the same Wi-Fi → open Universal TV Remote → scan for Xiaomi TV → complete pairing.

Once connected, your phone can become your temporary or everyday remote.

However, if the television is brand new and has never been connected to Wi-Fi, you may still need a physical remote or compatible replacement to complete the initial setup.

Universal TV Remote Control for Xiaomi Mi TV